Brazil's Testimoney Clinics: SMLC Senior Lecturer Tatiana Heise investigates pioneering programme for trauma rehabilitation

Supported by a British Academy grant, Tatiana Heise travelled to Porto Alegre, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro where she interviewed psychologists and mental health practitioners responsible for the Clínicas do Testemunho (Testimony Clinics), a pioneering programme of trauma rehabilitation for survivors of state violence. The first outcome of her research will be presented at the REBRAC conference in London (15-17 January). She is now working towards a partnership with two Brazilian filmmakers, Marta Haas and Pedro Isaías Lucas, to produce a documentary about the Clínicas.

 

Modern Languages Fair at George Heriot's School (Edinburgh)

On 9 September 2025 approximately 250 secondary school pupils from the Edinburgh local authority attended an event organised by George Heriot’s School. The aim was to highlight the value of studying languages alongside other subjects and the diverse career opportunities this can offer. Representatives from several Scottish universities, including the University of Edinburgh, the University of St. Andrews, the University of Aberdeen, and the University of Strathclyde gave presentations and talked to prospective students. The University of Glasgow was represented by Professor Nina Parish. Our HoS was accompanied by Iola Williams and Matt Jamieson who offered the student perspective on what is like to study languages at UofG.

 

SMLC Language Teaching @ Explorathon 2025: Food and Culture from Catalonia, Spain and Italy featured in the Explorathon programme, the EU funded research-fuelled festival, attracting audience of all ages

 SMLC language teaching staff contribution to Explorathon could not be missed this year either. Language tutors from Catalan, Spanish, Italian programmes engaged visitors in the ARC on Saturday 20th September with table top activities for all ages throughout the day and an hour interactive language taster workshop to discover the origin & traditions around popular dishes enjoyed in Catalonia, Spain & Italy.

The workshop featured also in the Glasgow Open Door programme and the 25 places available went immediately sold out. Participants were invited to spot similarities and differences among the dishes from each country and compare and contrast these with dishes in their own culinary traditions. This was also an opportunity to teach essential vocabulary and expressions to refer to basic ingredients in each language as well as simple instructions to prepare selected Mediterranean dishes and to inspire each participant to recreate their favourite one(s) at home for family and friends or just for themselves!
Participants were also inspired to grow their own herbs at home to give a Mediterranean flavour to their own cooking and, hopefully, discovering that they had green fingers after all!

The workshop was well received and proved to be an enjoyable language and culture learning experience as shown by these comments

Thank you very much. I really enjoyed it very interesting educative and friendly. Bravo!

Lovely people

Enjoyed the exchange of opinions and the vibe and interaction

It certainly provided both presenters and participants an occasion to find out about dishes and conviviality of meals in own countries' culinary tradition.

The audience counts through the door for Saturday the 20th September were 490. The SMLC table top activities engaged the ones who visited our tables in Culinary Puzzles, to reconstruct images of traditional dishes, Word Search, to learn basic ingredients in each language, Ingredient Memory Game to match ingredients with the dishes they belong, Flavour quizzes to learn about the traditions of each dish and Sensory Activities to guess essential dry ingredients through smell, sight, touch and hearing. These activities proved to be dynamic and entertaining, and allowed us, presenters, to highlight cultural aspects in a fun way.

People who visited our tables were also invited to leave their own culinary thought and dish.

Do take a look at these, some are displayed on the notice board on Level 2 of the Hetherington Building, and be inspired to share your own culinary tradition!

 

 

New Pre-sessional Course Bridges Global Education and Academic Literacy

A new Pre-sessional course launched this summer at the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, welcoming 43 students. Developed through extensive needs analysis in collaboration with the School of Education, the course integrates global education themes particularly SDG 4 with targeted academic literacies for postgraduate students.

This summer marked the successful launch of a new Pre-sessional course designed specifically to prepare future postgraduate students in the School of Education. The course was created in response to a comprehensive Needs Analysis project led by a team of experts in English for Academic Study (EAS) exploring academic literacies and skills needs of Postgraduate students in School of Education. Drawing on surveys and interviews with both academics and students, the project identified the core academic literacies and skills required for international postgraduate students including critical reading, synthesis of sources, academic writing, and interactive seminar participation.

The resulting course offers a research-informed curriculum that balances academic communication skills with engagement in global education policy themes, aligning closely with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. Students explore issues such as equity, inclusion, and teacher education while developing the linguistic and analytical competencies essential for postgraduate study.

Throughout the five-week programme, students took part in interactive lectures, guided independent study sessions, and seminars designed to simulate the academic expectations of their future degree programmes. A highlight of the course was a guest lecture by Professor Ellen Boeren, whose influential research on lifelong learning and SDG 4 served as one of the core readings.
The course represents an innovative model for discipline-specific EAP. It bridges academic skill development with critical engagement in the values and debates that underpin educational research.

 

SMLC Taster Sessions

The third edition of our annual SMLC Taster Sessions for Senior Phase Pupils (2 September) involved the return of our cross college collaboration with Gaelic and with English Language and Linguistics. As well as our usual sessions on Comparative Literature and on languages that can be studied up to Honours level, sessions on Czech and Japanese were offered. We welcomed around 80 pupils from Glasgow, Paisley, Kirkintilloch and Ayrshire (St. Mungo’s Academy, Bishopbriggs Academy, Whitehill Secondary School, St Ninian’s High School, St. Matthew’s Academy, Paisley Grammar School, Hillhead High School, and St. Aloysius College). Pupils highlighted in their feedback the enthusiasm of staff and the opportunity to be on campus to try new languages.

 

PSE Social Programme & End-of-Term Ceilidh: A programme of social events and a blockbuster knees-up to toast farewell to PSE 2024-25!

The ‘24-25 programme saw the completed resurrection - for the first time since 2019 - of the PSE Social Programme with a series of events, trips and “Chat Club” sessions for students. The Social Programme provides vital opportunities and a safe space for students to make connections, form extended friendship groups and build confidence in language and communication. Highlights included trips to Culzean Castle, Helensburgh, Loch Lomond, Edinburgh Fringe, ‘Ladies Luncheons’ and Games Nights! You can see snaps and snippets of some fun stuff in the Student Common Room and EAS corridor!

The PSE Programme finale in August saw the much-anticipated PSE End-of-Term Ceilidh, with the largest ever event of 400+ students(!) and teachers enjoying a knees-up and some wonderful Scottish music and dancing in the Hunter Halls. A special way to round off a busy, humbling and happy summer.

Huge thanks to Francesca as Co-ordinator and to the team of Social Programme Interns - Ankita, Rose, Agata, Molly & Noemi - for the exceptional efforts putting together a fantastic series of events for students.

Don't miss the 2026 Ceilidh!

Link to CoAH Linkedin post on the Ceilidh

PSE End-of-Term Ceilidh, Thursday 28 August – UofG Hunter Halls

 

SCILT Conferences: Moving Forward with Languages

In partnership with university language departments across Scotland, SCILT (Scotland’s National Centre for Languages) has organised two one-day language conferences for Higher and Advanced Higher language learners.

The in-person Moving Forward with Languages conference on 9 September was attended by 143 pupils from 21 schools. Ernest Schonfield and Mónica Legazpi-Iglesias’ delivered workshops in which they actively involved attendees. The titles were Taking a closer look at pronunciation and language through German pop music and poems and How to ensure effective communication in Spanish through good pronunciation and cultural awareness.

Mark Toolan, Junior Honours (French and Spanish) represented SMLC in the student panel Q&A session.

The second conference will be held online on 19 November. Arabella Infantino and Elizabeth Geary Keohane will take part with their workshop Refining writing skills. Ernest Schonfield will also participate with his workshop on German pop music and poems.

 

First published: 14 November 2025

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